Jaisalmer Exploration with students of National Association for the Blinds

I am honored to have had the opportunity of capturing some once in a lifetime kind of moments of students from National Association for the Blinds. Some of these students were completely blind whereas some could see partially.

I cannot express how much I learned from these kids while watching them enjoying every moment in the desert. They truly taught me the difference between seeing & feeling. Some of them literally mastered their senses and that is something we have to learn for sure.

I am more than happy to share some of these moments with you here. I hope you enjoy as much as I have enjoyed to capture them.

Don't just touch, Feel.

By Prashant Rana

www.prashantphotography.com

www.offcoursetravel.com

+91-9999 699 237, +91-9560 690 698

Rishikesh: - The weekend getaway.

Rishikesh: A city located at the foothills of Himalayan mountain range on the banks of river Ganges, attracts adventure seekers from all around the world. This is one of the most famous river rafting sites where River Ganges or Ganga as it is popularly known, enters the planes of North India. If you are in New Delhi and looking for a weekend destination to explore then Rishikesh is a place which can offer you a delightful visit.

Just drive for 5-6 hours from New Delhi and you will reach here. River Ganges is sacred for believers of Hinduism, and this is evident in all the cities, towns and small villages situated at the banks of this mighty river. But, Rishikesh is not just a holy town. The city is a hub of weekend adventure seekers. You can bungee jump from a height of 83 meters or row a raft in the white waters of Ganges for 26 kilometers. Rock climbing, body surfing, andcamping are some other activities very popular here.

But, those who are inclined towards spiritualism should not feel disappointed. If you are one of those travellers who prefer solitude over crowd and peace over hooting chaos, there are several Ashrams and meditation centers in the city. Swarg Ashram is a very popular meditation center here.

Due to its popularity, this city receives many tourists annually. Finding an accommodation which suits your budget is not at all a problem. A wide range of hotels and camps are readily available to provide you with expensive luxurious staying options to inexpensive bread & breakfast kind of stays.

So, if you are wondering how you can spice up your travel in India, you can surely add this place in your list. It is certain that Rishikesh will serve you as an open window to cultural, spiritual, and youthful adventurous side of India at the same time.

By Prashant Rana

Prashant Rana is a travel & documentary photographer/writer. His keen interest in life is evident in his photography. For more information and project related queries you can reach him via his website www.prashantphotography.com 

Rewalsar – a place where religion meets God

God is a word for some and world for some. Whoever you and wherever on the planet you are trying to survive the time called life, you will always find yourself surrounded by the Topic of God either in terms of the religion you follow or the deeds you do. The world has seen so many wars and massacres on the name of God. Racial discrimination, political moves, sociological circumstances and human relations are somehow connected to this word directly or indirectly. But, this article is not about God or any particular religion. It is about a place where I found Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism growing and glowing together with prosperity and peace. Rewalsar – a small town in the Himalayan Mountains of the state of Himachal Pradesh in India.

You can reach Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh easily by bus from New Delhi as there is a frequent bus service ranging from Air conditioned to normal ones. From Mandi district you have to either hire a taxi or get into a minibus with reasonable fair till Rewalsar.

When you step down at the main bus stop of this town you may see a regular crowded market like any other town of India, but the moment you take a small street and enter the town you are going to be welcomed by a huge statue of Buddhist Rimpoche Padmasambhava right above a lake amidst the Himalayan mountains. The statue gives a feeling that the town is being guarded with positive energy. And it sure is.

The place has everything you can wish for to bring peace to your restless soul. A town where people are friendly and surroundings are peaceful. I spent a little time here but I was amazed to see that people could greet me with my name and those who did not know my name would greet me with a sweet smile. An experience I never had anywhere else in India.

I am not going to go in depths of religious stories of this town because the web world is filled with information. I would just say that for sure this place is going to give you a soothing experience when you sit by the lake at dusk, watching the moon rise from behind the mountains, listening to Hindu aartis and Buddhist chants along with Sikh gurbaanis which creates a universal sense of music while Cool breeze brushing your hair and you can see fishes coming up the surface of water to fetch pieces of bread which local people serve them when they encircle the sacred lake. An unexplainable feeling which all our souls that face constant buzz of traffic and pollution, strives for.

by Prashant Rana

+91-9999 699 237

www.prashantphotography.com

About Author – Prashant Rana is a Travel Photographer/Writer residing in New Delhi – INDIA. With a curiosity like a kid and a camera in hands he travels through India for some unique experiences which are not yet into the travel books.  

Things to keep in mind while traveling with small kids

Traveling is surely a fun activity for some, to some of my breed it is passion, to some others it is a good way to bond with their families and create memories. Either way when we travel we are certain to have an experience that stays alive in our minds for many decades to come. But what if we have a cute young member in the family? Here I am specifically talking about kids below the age of 5. How do you plan to take care of them while you travel?

I have a lovely devilishly naughty niece and last year we went on a long trip with her. The trip was amazing and we all had a lot of fun. But that experience made me notice how struggling it can be when you travel with kids, especially those who are younger than the age of 5. So today, I think we should talk about how to make our travel a little easier while traveling with small children.

There are some very basic points we all consider before embarking on a trip with young kids, such as:-

Food – we all understand that kids get hungry more often than the grown up. So, we all must pack some snacks and food items to satisfy their needs on the way. Just pack something they love to eat along with some juices and things will get a little smoother.

Nappies – when we talk about kids under the age of 5 years, we must understand that their urge to pee and other such activities can be really unpredictable and sometimes inconvenient. So, arm yourself with a good collection of nappies to safeguard yourself against such situations.

Medicines – this is not just for kids but for all of us. You really do not want to face health issues while traveling out of your hometown where you have little knowledge of hospitals and doctors. If it is about traveling in a place where you do not speak and understand the native language then it becomes more important to carry medicines and pain killers. With kids in the plan this idea can be life saving.

Road safety – at times it can be a little tricky to handle kids and cross a busy road at the same time. So if it is possible take their carriers and other such products.

The things mentioned above are something we all may think and plan about while preparing for the trip with our little ones because these are something which requires immediate attention. But, there are a few other factors that may get skipped in the hurry to pack and leave.

These can be:-

Toys, story books & music – kids tend to get bored much more easily than an adult. So, pack their favorite toys to keep them busy. A story book can be a nice idea if your kid is habitual to listening to bed time stories. My niece is a big fan of music. Since she was a new born she reacts to music instantly so now I never forget to load my phone with her favorite music while going with her. If your kid is also a fan of pop or jazz then don’t you ever dare to forget their favorite music behind on a trip?

Check the weather conditions – a dream destination may caste such a spell that one might forget to look for weather conditions. Although it is very vital to check the weather forecast of the place you are about to visit, it becomes even more important when you have a young soul with you. A sudden change in climate can make your kid feel uneasy. So, consider it before selecting a destination.

Spend time with kids like usual – your grown up brain is very much able to understand the limitations of traveling and being out of your home. But your kid might not be able to understand this. They have a habit of spending a particular part of day with you. For example my niece will not miss her father and mother until evening because they both work. But after 5 PM she needs her mother at home. Her mind is accustomed to this routine. So, while you are out try to spend time with your kid just like you would have at home. This makes them feel more comfortable.

Take turns in babysitting – if you are traveling with all your family members then it is the duty of all of you to take care of the little ones. Don’t leave the kid as the responsibility of just one or two members and take active participation in looking after them. This will keep them busy and make them feel more secure.

Set the days of traveling wisely – you maybe a vagabond at heart or as I call myself “A Gypsy by default soul”, but your kid still need to develop their abilities to take on the new environments and changes. Consider their health and set your travel days accordingly. With my niece I set the limit to a maximum of 15 days and make sure I do not stay at one place for more than 3 days so that does not get bored.

I hope you have a nice time spent with your family and kids and I wish that you create lots of memories to be cherished throughout the life and hundreds of photographs which you will show to your kids when they grow up.

By Prashant Rana

www.prashantphotography.com

www.offcoursetravel.com

+91-9999 699 237, +91-9560 690 698

An Evening spent in Peaceful Chaos

Hello friends, sorry for not keeping up for so many months due to some personal issues

Ganktok the capital city of state of Sikkim in North-East India, is an amazing place for any travel enthusiast to visit. This city is surely going to rejuvenate your soul. Its picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage can keep you captive for hours, days or probably months and yet when you come back you would wish to have spent more time there. The good thing is that there is always a next time when your heart strives for it.

What I miss the most about Gangtok is the evening I spent in Gandhi Market there.

At first it looked nothing different than any other market place of a popular tourist place, but when I took out my camera and started to look for subjects to capture I realized that this market is not like the others I have visited previously. It was crowded yet very peaceful. Something which I thought was impossible before I stood there in that moment.

I kept wondering for many minutes about the reasons behind this steadiness and calmness of a place so crowded and I figured out that

• ·         It is all because of the discipline people follow here.
• ·         They all simply enjoy being here but make sure that they do not interrupt in other’s enjoyment.
• ·         No automobile zone status makes this market a paradise for shoppers.
• ·         Gangtok is a smoke free city and the administration authorities strictly enforce this law.
• ·         Well maintained flowers and pedestrian pavements keep your mind at ease.

I could sit there and watch people walk around and shop for many hours forgetting the limits of time. It was indeed an experience I’ve never had before. Chaotic, crowded, noisy and yet tranquility prevailed all around. I am still not finished with this place and one day I will again visit it just to sit there and watch a market breathing and walking just like a peaceful monk in mountains.

by Prashant Rana

www.prashantphotography.com

www.offcoursetravel.com

+91-9999 699 237, +91-9560 690 698

Things you need to see and do in Australia (GUEST POST)

Australia is one of the most incredible countries in the world and it truly is something that should be enjoyed and taken in with your entire body and mind. And it does not really matter if you are visiting Australia or if you like there and you are just looking for a weekend getaway. Australia has so much to offer that you could spend your entire life just traversing the continent and you would still miss out on so much. However, there are a few things that no one should fail to see and experience in Australia and they are these.

One thing that is truly breath-taking and that can change one's view of the world and the planet is definitely the Daintree rainforest. It is one of the most spectacular places in the entire world and it boasts some of the most diverse plant and animal ecosystems that you can imagine. There are also tons of things that you can do there, from river cruises to bushwalks and crocodile-spotting expeditions. There are also great places nearby that you can stay in as part of your affordable weekend getaway that will bring you back in touch with the nature.

If you live in Sydney or if you are visiting Sydney, which is something you will do if you are visiting Australia, then Fraser Island is really the best weekend getaway that you can imagine. It is the largest sand island in the world and it boasts simply mind-boggling island lakes that have the whitest sand beaches and the clearest water that you will ever see. There is plenty of affordable accommodation on Fraser Island and it truly is a one in a million type of experience.

Another very special place that should be on everyone's to-do list is the Uluru Mountain, also known as Ayers Rock. It is a sandstone rock that seems to have been placed in the Red Centre by some supernatural power and that can truly make your heart stop when you see it. The best time to visit Uluru is before daybreak as this will allow you to see the most spectacular sunrise that you can experience on planet Earth.

A visit to cradle Mountain in Tasmania is another perfect weekend getaway that you can enjoy any time of the year. In the winter, it is a glorious snowy landscape and in the summer it may be even more beautiful. It is an impossibly beautiful part of the country and the perfect place to visit if you have a day or two. You can find affordable weekendgetaway cottages that are more than reasonably priced.

Finally, and we think that there is no point in even telling you about it, you have to visit the Bondi beach, one of the most famous beaches in the world and deservedly so. It is its own world, sometimes tough, sometimes funny; but always interesting and exciting. Make sure to pay it a visit.

Bio:

Sophie Andersen is blogger from Australia. Follow her on https://twitter.com/andersen_sophie.

Responsible tourism – The need of Eco – tourism

We accept this fact or not but surely the increase in interaction all across the globe have somehow been good as well bad for us. Today tourism and travel sector has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry but in the race of gaining more & more profit we have somehow neglected the needs of mother nature. Fortunately  now people are getting inclined towards Eco – tourism.

Some of us may wonder what this term exactly means. So, we can say in short that steps taken by us for a sustainable conservation of the area that we travel can be covered under Eco – tourism. The aim of all this is solely to enjoy the place in its original form and not to deface it with our alien presence.

You can take some steps given below to ensure it : -

Use nature based products as much as possible. For example a lemonade can be a better drink in hotter destinations than going for a carbonated cola.

Carry a garbage bag with you wherever you go and keep in mind to throw it only in a dustbin. It has been found that trash disposed irresponsibly by tourists not only harms the beauty of a place but is also hazardous for the flora & fauna of the place and poses serious threat to animal life as well.

Make sure you take services from local people more. The benefit of you being in their land should reach the natives, so that travelers like you keep getting a warm welcome on trips and travel expeditions.

Clean up the mess right after you are done with your camping and other activities. Try to leave no signs of your presence in the place to keep it in its perfect shape. This would be considered as a nice gesture from your side to show respect to nature and the destination you enjoyed.

If you see something wrong in the place which is actually harming the destination and its natural & cultural aspects, you can spare a little time and send an appeal to the local tourism department via email or post to show your concern. The more appeals received will open gates to more efficient steps taken towards the place. Trust me you will feel great inside when you do this.

This responsible behavior towards the nature and destinations you visit can be a great way to demonstrate your passion towards traveling. Not only this, there are several other benefits from this such as : -

•  Safeguards the beauty of nature and preserves the cultural heritage & values of the natives of that place.
•  It gives employment to the local population and make them feel good about the place where they live.
• This will prevent forced migration due to lack of work opportunities.
• You, the traveler will enjoy the beauty of the place in its original form.

We can say that showing a little concern towards the places we visit and bringing a little modifications in our style of traveling can bring a brighter dawn at the ever expanding horizon of traveling.

Happy Traveling friends

By Prashant Rana